LuxCath, LLC will showcase the next generation of its proprietary OmniView™ light-guided catheter ablation system at the 2018 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) conference in Boston, May 9 to 12 at the Boston Convention Center.
Cardiac ablation is a well-accepted treatment option for cardiac arrhythmias, performed more than 800,000 times every year globally. Currently, electrophysiologists rely on a range of indirect surrogate end points, such as temperature, power, duration and contact force, to assess lesion quality during the cardiac ablation procedure. However, these surrogate end points have been shown to be variable and potentially unreliable, and they do not directly assess tissue response in real time. Literature has shown single procedure recurrence rates of 20 to 40 percent when ablating atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common form of arrhythmia.
The LuxCath OmniView light-guided catheter delivers and couples light into the tissue via an optical fiber embedded in the ablation catheter to assess tissue metabolic activity. The optical signal can be used to assess stability of catheter-tissue contact, tissue composition and lesion formation. The quality of these lesions is critical, as arrhythmia will recur if the lesions are not complete and uniform across the affected tissue. As lesions are formed, natural tissue fluorescence diminishes, indicating tissue destruction. This feedback mechanism allows the electrophysiologist to better assess the quality of the lesion formed. The next generation of the OmniView is orientation-independent, emitting light and seeing in all directions, allowing for optical signals at all angles of tissue contact.
“LuxCath has developed a promising and much needed technology with the OmniView light-guided ablation catheter, which has the potential to improve lesion quality and reduce procedure time while also making the procedure less operator dependent,” said Dr. Vivek Reddy, Director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Service for The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Mount Sinai Health System, and a LuxCath scientific advisory board member. “The light-guided technology is designed to signal to the operator when there is stable and consistent tissue contact, which is critical in achieving complete lesions. If the OmniView™ can deliver on the promise of its approach, light guidance has the potential to be the primary sensory modality in the catheter ablation treatment of AF.”
Separately, the company has announced the establishment of a scientific advisory board, with members including:
- Vivek Reddy, M.D., Director, Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Mount Sinai Health System
- David Haines, M.D., Section Head, Heart Rhythm, Beaumont Hospital
- Pierre Jais, M.D., Co-Director, L’institut de rythmologie et modélisation cardiaque, Bordeaux, France
- Andrea Natale, M.D., Executive Medical Director, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center
- Jeremy Ruskin, M.D., Founder, Director, Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Massachusetts General Hospital
“Our scientific advisory board brings together world-renowned authorities in the catheter ablation treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. We are grateful for their expert advice, guidance and contributions in advancing our technology and enabling development of the next generation of the OmniView system,” said Arun Jaganathan, general manager of LuxCath and director of Allied Minds, LLC, parent company of LuxCath.
LuxCath will be at Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) 2018 at booth no. 787 and will be demonstrating the technology in private suite TS899.
About LuxCath, LLC
LuxCath is a medical technology company founded to address persistent unmet needs in the catheter ablation treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The company has developed breakthrough technology that uses fluorescence and optics to directly view lesions during cardiac ablation procedures. Its flagship product, the OmniView™ light-guided ablation catheter, allows electrophysiologists for the first time to see and assess catheter-tissue contact quality, tissue composition and lesion quality in real time during the procedure, increasing the potential for complete and effective cardiac ablation. For more information, visit www.luxcath.com.
About Allied Minds, LLC
Allied Minds is an innovative U.S. science and technology development and commercialization company. Operating since 2006, Allied Minds forms, funds, manages and builds products and businesses based on innovative technologies developed at leading U.S. universities and federal research institutions. Allied Minds serves as a diversified holding company that supports its businesses and product development with capital, central management and shared services. More information about the Boston-based company can be found at www.alliedminds.com.
